Archdiocese, Notre Dame partner to assess Milwaukee Catholic schools

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is partnering with a consulting group from the University of Notre Dame to review 26 urban Catholic elementary schools, according to an announcement Tuesday.

The in-depth reviews will examine a variety of elements at each school, from the rigor of their academic programs to their governance structures, finances and Catholic identities.

The assessments are intended to provide an external, objective diagnosis of each school, and also to reinforce the effectiveness of each school, according to a news release from the Archdiocese.

Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education Consulting offers services from executive searches to professional development. It's unclear how much the Milwaukee Archdiocese is paying for the consulting group to review the elementary schools, and the release did not name the schools to be reviewed.

Kathleen Cepelka, superintendent of archdiocesan schools, said in a statement she believed the approach would help provide more high-quality Catholic education to more students.

About Erin Richards

Erin Richards covers K-12 education in urban and suburban Milwaukee, as well as state politics related to education issues.